Means for testing brakes



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G.w. BROGAN 39719147 MEANS FOR TESTING BRAKES Filed Deo. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 h'llllldlll 1 luf/7A? WAM a @www Aug., g, BE.

G. W. BROGAN MEA'NSFOR TESTING BRAKES Filed Dec. 19. 1927 4 SheBiSwSwt INVENTOR.

ATTORNE.

Patented ug. 9, 1932 l PATENT' OFFICE y UNITED STATES GRAHAM W. BOGAN, OF TOWSON, MARYLAND, S. DUNCAN BLACK AND THE SAFE DE- POSIT AND TRUST COMPANY GF BALTIMORE, EXECUTOBS F SAID GRAHAM W. BBOGAN, DECEASED, ASSIGNORS T0 'WILLIAM W. YARNEY, OF BALTIMORE, MABY- ILAND Application led December 19, 1927. Serial lo. 241,148.

The object of my invention is an improved method of testing and comparing the several brakes on a vehicle, while the same is in motion.

a A. further object of my invention is the vproviding of an improved brake-testing device for testing brakes on moving vehicles.

A further object of my invention is the providing of means for testing the respective brakes on a moving vehicle, and ascertaining the relative adjustment thereof.

A further object of my invention is providing a simple brake testing device, portable, or semi-portable, in character, easily assembled and positioned or service. y

` A further object of my invention is the Aproviding of mutually co-operating Contact plates in a brake testing device.

A further object of my invention in a go brake testing device is the providing of indicating means for indicating the relative braking eii'ectiveness of the several braking means on the several wheels.

A further object of my invention, is .the

providing in a brake testing device an indi-V cating positioning means to assist the operator of the vehicle in applying the brakes at the desired location.

.A further object of my invention is the a@ providing in a brake testing device a sensitive adjusting means.

With thel foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists of the methods employed, combination and arrangements of systems, apparatus and means as hereinafter specifically provided and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings of the-herein-described embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a plan view of a device for carrying out my method of testing brakes on moving vehicles; Fig. 2 is a side view'in elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of my device for testing *5 all four `brakes of a vehicle simultaneously;

Fig. et is a side view in elevation of the device shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of another modification of a device for carrying out my method of brake testing; Fig.

6 is a side view in elevation'of the device shown in Fig. 5'; Fig. 7 is a sectional view,

taken through 7--7 of Fig. 5, showing an electric circuit closing means for operating the annunciator, or indicating means, Jfor showing the location of the vehicle at a predetermined position of the same; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken through 8-8 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a plan view of another modification of my brake testing device; Fig. l() is a side View in elevation of the device shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a sectional view, taken through 11-11 of Fig. `9; Fig. 12 is a view in elevation, partly in section, taken through 12--12 of Fig. 9, particularly showing a means for reducing the sensitiveness of my device; Fig. 13 is a plan view of a modified convertible form o my device for testing the relative eliectiveness of the several brakes on a single side of a vehicle, or by conversion may test the opposite brakes as in the other forms shown; the dotted lines in said figure representing the latter type, and the equalizing bar 6, shown in full line, will be disconnected `from the contact plates 3; Fig.l14 is a sectional view taken through line lli-14, of Fig. 13 and Fig. 15 is a plan view of the ap# paratus shown in Fig. 13 after having been adjusted for testing brakes on wheels on the same side of an automobile, say at a ratio of to 60, each side operating independently, the two sliding members on the same side of the automobile being linked together by lever 61 and links 26.

Similar numerals refer. to similar parts throughout the several views.

l is the loor, or base, upon which my device vis placed, such as, the door' o the garage, a

pavement, or any suitablesupport; it may be of wood, concrete, asphalt, or any other suit able material,'or simply earth. 2 is the base plate, on the upper surface of which operates, or slides, contact plate 3. 4 are lugs, or guides, between which contact plate 3 operates. The are secured to base plate 2. l

Base plate 2 may simply rest on the door,

l p2, y

or ground, as shown in Fig. 2, or it may be tact pate 3 is pre said metal to provide nonof being separated and one under each contact plateas shown in Figs. 2 5 and 9 may be a continuous bed plate, as shown in Fi 1, makin a' convenient portable form. on-

i rably smooth on its under side, for contacting or sliding on base plate 2; and, on its upper side, is referably roughened, or provided with a su ace to con'- tact with the tire, or wheel, of the vehicle,

the brakes of which are to be tested.I It is desirable that this surface should have but small slippage'in contact witlisaid tire. This sur#`- face, while for durability and service may;

be simply roughened metal a coating -on with the tire may be proyided.

6 are equalizing bars connecting contact plates 3, causing the same to mutually cooperate in the determining of a relative effectiveness of the brakes on the-wheels contacting with contact plates 3, respectively. These bars are connected in any convenient method with contact plate 3, as shown, designed to act as a one tooth pinion in a one tooth-rack. rlhese bars being fulcrumed to the base plate as shown in Fig. 1.

Where an open form of base plate 2 is used, as shown in Figs. 3, and 9, 7 are brace b ars at one end secured to base plates 2 so as to form a rigid structure of a plurality of the base plates.. This may be accomplished as shown in Fig. 5 by extending those bars from base plate to base plate, or, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9, to anchor plate 8.

Any desirablemeans may be employed to eiect the sensitiveness of the sliding contact between base plate 2 and contact plate 3.

I have shown a form which gives satisfaction, and it consists (see Fig. 12) of clamping bolt 9, handle nut 10 operating on said clamping bolt clamping between it and the head of said clamping bolt, brace bars 7, equalizing bars 6 and a friction washer 11, and where there is an anchor plate, also said anchor plate.

Friction washer 11 may be of any suitably constructed washer, all metal, but I prefer a lined washer having a metal portion 12 and a fibre lining 13 secured thereto. i

Onbolt 9, outside of handle nut 10, I hav found it desirable'to provide a lock nut 14 to lock the various parts, afterthedevice is adjusted. Where the equalized base 6o rates in contact plate 3, I provide a cover p ate An indicating meansfor showing the displacement of the contact plates 3 from middle, or neutral, position is shown at 16 as a pointer, over a graduated scale. In the types illustrated in Figs. 59, it is on the edge of the contact plates 3. And in the types illustrated in Figs. l and 3, the pointers are on the equaiizing bars. in the heavier e is lippage contactv vice, a replacement means or han of'delshownU in Fig. 9; 17 being the handle ulcrumed on v brace bar 7 operating equalizing bal' 6 by4 means of link 18.

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To determine the position of a vehicle being driven on to my device when the brakes i' i should be applied for the testing, an annunci- ,tact switch located to operate when the wheel of the vehicle is in the desired position. This switchis shown in Fig. 7, and consists of terminals 20V and cross connecting bar 21 joining said terminals'when surface plnteggis depressed by the Wheel. 0f Vthe vehicle.

23 are approach, or rider, plates secured base plate 2 and overlap ends of contact platea and in the cases shown in igs. 3, 5 and 9, the

' fastenings 5 perform this function. x'l'hede'-- vice shown in Fig. 3 testsl the-front wheels the movement .of contact plates 3.' In the evice shown in Fi 1 a rivet is used 3. These plates prevent a battingI contact 'Y and the rear wheels simultaneouslyA and determines which opposite brakes are out of l adjustment, if "at all. See the form ofmy device shownl in'Fig. 13 forcomparing the brakes on a single side of a vehicle.4 f

My methods employed in testing automobile brakes is to determine simultaneously the f f relative holding power of. brakes'on the o posite sides of a vehicle, or 'on the same si e of avehicle respectively while said brakes are subjected to friction 1n. motion.4

In the practice of my process and the ation of the device described,A as an illustration I will take an automobile, provided with `device as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, applying the brakes at a predetermined point as announced by the ringing of the annunciator bell upon the vehicle wheel pressing the'v "sur ace plate 22which is not shown in'Fig.

3 for the lack of s ace, but is relatively posif tionedasshown in ig.5tothe contactplate 3.' 1go on to contact plates 3. If

The wheels 4 both brakesv a ow the wheels to turn with equal resistance the contact platesvwill remain stationary and no relativey displacementcf these plates takes plage. ever, one brake holdsiti zlit'ertliantiie other the wheels controlled t ereby will tend to slow up quicker than the other wheels, thus causing a relative displacement of the con- Ytacty plates under the wheels Vbeing tested.

If, howi ig.- 15, it

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other modication, all four brakes may bechine, and then by testing the brake'son the com ared.

y device may be used in a runway, or on the road, for testing and comparing brakes,

without stopping the vehicle, by simply momentarily applying the brakes while the driving power of the machine is released and the wheels are under control of the brakes,

while on said device. This, of course, in the device shown only applies to the Wheels last in contact with the same. s 4

When the brakes on one side of the-vehicle .i are to be tested, that is, the front and rear brake com ared, the device shown in Fig. 13 is used. p s a different ratio of holding effect of. the respective brakes is usual, say, for

instance, the ratio of forward to rear brake 4ratio of holdin being to 60%, that requires a means on the evice for regulation to show the desired tested; this re ation is accomplished in the drawing shown by changing the location of the fulcrum of the equalizing bar 6v', as shown by means of block 27 throu h which said equalization bar 6' may be a justed and securing means 28 for holding the equalizing bar in desired fulcrumed position.

Having thus described in invention what l claim and desire to secure y Letters atent is: f 1. A. brake test' device consisting of, a

e plurality of relative y movable surface plates s l over which the whee A sa of which 'are to be tested are respectively driven, means mutually controlling said plates whereby the relative movement of said plates must be in opposite directions. 2. A brake device consisting of, a plurality of'relative movable surface plates over which the whee of a vehicle the brakes of which are to -be tested are respectively driven, means mutually controlling said Y plates whereby the relative movement of said plates must in opposite directions, and means indicating the relative position of said plates.

eil'ect between the brakes' of a vehicle the brakes 5. A brake testingvdevice comprising, a plurality of movable surface lates on w ich the wheels of a vehicle the bra es of which are to be tested are respectively operated, means for controllingthe movement of said plates whereby the movement of one of said plates causes a movement of another of said plates, y

vof which, are to be tested are respectively driven, means mutually controlling said plates whereblyethe relative movement ofvsaid plates must in lLipposite directions, and adjustable means apted to retard said movement.

GRAHAM wespen.

i 3. A brake testing device comprising a plu-l Y ,Y rality of-movable surface plates on which the wheels. of a vehicle the brakes of which are to be tested are respectively o rated, means fil) to control the movement of sai lates whereby the movement of one of said p stes causes a movement of another of said plates and means for determining the relative movement of said plates.

4. brake testing device comprisin a plurality of movable surface. plates on w ich are to be tested are 'respectively operated, means for controlling the movement of said plates whereby the movement of one of said the wheels of a vehicle the brakes of which plates causes a movement of another of said plates and means for adjusting the ratio of the relative movements of said plates.

iis

or varying the relative 1 

